Dragon Ball Manga Return Hopes Officially Dashed by Shueisha

The annual Shueisha event, Jump Festa, is typically a platform for showcasing their most important manga and providing fans with updates about future projects. However, this year, Dragon Ball, the publisher's most iconic series, is barely featured at the event. Speculations suggest that the franchise's intricate status could be the cause, hinting at potential future changes.

Dragon Ball, created by Akira Toriyama, concluded in 1995, followed by the sequel, Dragon Ball Super, initiated in 2015. Initially an anime adaptation, it later branched out into original story arcs like the Galactic Patrol arc. Toriyama's unexpected death in 2024 put the manga on a hiatus, leaving its future uncertain. The rights to Dragon Ball are fragmented among the Toriyama estate, Shueisha, Toei Animation, Bandai Namco, and Capsule Corporation Tokyo, a company founded by Toriyama's former right-hand man, Akio Iyoku.

This complex situation may explain why Dragon Ball hasn't made a comeback yet. At Jump Festa 2026, a visual featuring no Dragon Ball characters was presented, sparking rumors. Upon reviewing the 2027 event's lineup, Dragon Ball Super was notably absent from the Jump Original Art World zone, replaced by Metaphor: ReFantazio, a manga adaptation of the popular RPG from Atlus.

Notably, the Dragon Ball Super anime will have an exhibition space at the event as part of Toei Animation's booth, indicating Shueisha's commitment to the franchise. However, the absence of the manga after over two years of hiatus appears to be a significant blow for fans hoping Toyotaro would continue the story. Recently, further developments have emerged, fueling the belief that major changes are imminent.

The Bird Studio, where Toriyama worked for many years, is set to be demolished, a fact that has been noted by many. Although no official statements have been released, some fans are speculating that Iyoku might acquire the rights to publish Dragon Ball outside Shueisha's control, which could be the reason for Shueisha's decision to limit Dragon Ball Super's presence at Jump Festa 2027.

Despite the numerous speculations, one thing remains clear: there are likely underlying issues behind the series' delay or cancellation. Toyotaro continues to produce monthly character illustrations for V Jump and even changed his X bio to reflect his dedication to the series' return, but the recent updates from Jump Festa have left fans disheartened and doubtful about a potential return under Shueisha's guidance.